Police Makes Arrest In $250000 Romance Scam

Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau have arrested and charged a 26-year-old Toronto man in connection to an alleged online Romance Scam, defrauding a 73-year-old female victim of over $250,000.

In September of 2022, the suspect met the victim through an online dating website and began communicating daily via text and phone calls. The suspect claimed he owned an ‘Oil Rig’ in the Middle East and urgently needed money. The suspect promised to repay the victim and that they would eventually meet in person. The victim only communicated with the suspect electronically and had never met the suspect in person.

After seeing a media report about “Romance Scams,” the victim realized that she had been the target of a “Romance Scam.”

The victim was deceived into sending over $250,000 to the suspect via cryptocurrency.

On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, investigators from the Fraud Bureau executed a search warrant at the suspects’ residence in Toronto and arrested and charged Chimezie Nwabueze, a 26-year-old male, with the following criminal offences:

• Fraud Over $5000

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime x2

• Utter Forged Documents

• Identity Fraud

Police located and seized high-value jewelry, a luxury automobile, and proceeds related to the offences.

Chimezie Nwabueze, was released on an Undertaking and will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton on December 11, 2023.

Investigators believe that there may be more victims.

Anyone with information pertaining to this matter is asked to contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453-3311, ext. 3335. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.

(This news article is as per the media release from Peel Regional Police)

Parvasi Media Group